Middlesex man charged with murder in girlfriend's slaying

MIDDLESEX — A 34-year-old Middlesex County man has been charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend in a Sunday afternoon shooting on Urbanna Road.

Travis Baker has been charged with first-degree murder and using or displaying in a threatening manner a firearm while committing or attempting to commit murder, said Maj. Mickey Sampson of the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office.

About 5 p.m. Sunday, Baker appeared at the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office crying and distraught, Sampson said. He told deputies he went to his girlfriend's residence in the 800 block of Urbanna Road but when he arrived she told him to leave, Sampson said.

Baker told detectives he "snapped and shot her in the head," Sampson said.

Wendy Billups, 33, of Saluda, suffered two fatal gunshot wounds to the head, Sampson said. She was deceased when deputies arrived at the residence, Sampson said.

Billups' body has been transported to the Medical Examiner's Office in Richmond, Sampson said.

Baker is the fourth person to be charged with murder in Middlesex County this year. A grand jury on May 12 indicted Phillip "Bubba" Harris, 57, of Wake, Christopher "Rooster" Fogg, 40, of Aylett, and Jorge Torres, 29, of Yorktown, on charges of felony murder, lynching and abduction in connection with the death of Edwin Barry Hughes, 49.

Hughes died during an altercation with Harris, Fogg and Torres during a dance the night of May 11 at Bush Park Camping Resort in Wake. The three men charged with murder were working as security guards at the resort.